Midweek Musings for Sunday, April 5, 2015

Festival of the Resurrection

This week's reflection comes from Rev. Frank C. Hanrahan

Genesee Finger Lakes Conference Dean

Reflecting and Dwelling in the Word

Prayer of the Day

O God, you gave your only Son

to suffer death on the cross for our redemption,

and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death.

Make us die every day to sin,

that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection,

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Gospel: Mark 16:1-8

The resurrection of Jesus is announced, and the response is one of terror and amazement.

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ²And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" ⁴When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. ⁶But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." ⁸So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

CHRIST IS RISEN !!!

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED !!! ALLELUIA !!!

Reflection

Oh, what a day! It happened just as God had planned! It happened just as Jesus told everyone! The third day! the SON shines! They got dressed and went to the tomb, not to see it empty, but to anoint a dead body for burial. They still were certain Jesus was dead. After all, they watched him die (even though they heard Jesus say, "in three days. . ."

Today, it's Easter - what are you coming to see? What does the empty tomb mean to you? Can you still here Jesus' words as the egg hunt goes on; as jelly beans are consumed; as chocolate bunnies and crosses are eaten up; as you are dressed in your finest; as the ALLELUIA'S are unburied, shouted and sung. In the midst of all this you are told: "Don't be afraid. . .the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. . .now on your way. . .he is going on ahead of you to Galilee."

Have you come to worship to praise the "healer of our every ill". Have you come to give thanks to the God who walks with you through the deepest/darkest valleys of life, as well as the One who celebrates with you those tremendous mountain-top experiences?

Have you come to see, know, follow the One who invites you to change your life and bring hope into a fragile broken world? Have you come to hear God's voice and then, GO to tell your story!

Oh, wait, we're Lutherans! We like Mark's Easter narrative. It's our kind of story. . .

vs. 8: "They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone." (The Message Bible). Well, if those first believers did that I will just keep Jesus in my heart. I don't need to tell anyone! After all, everyone knows the tomb is empty!

Yes, we too are stunned, but the story needs to be told. The joy of the Resurrection needs to be shared. The gift of grace needs to be offered to all. Remember: we love to tell the story. We must go tell it on the mountain - over the hills - and every where:

CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED ! ALLELUIA

Yes, Christ is with you and walks with you today, tomorrow to the end of the ages. Yes, on Easter morn Jesus was raised from the dead for me for you! It's time to go tell the our story of the One who lives, yet was crucified, died, was buried. Christ is alive and we are free. ALLELUIA !

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